People with a certificate in radiology generally become radiological technologists.
In most states, people who hold a certificate in radiology from an accredited program are qualified for a job as a radiological technologist. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there are 213 radiology programs resulting in a certificate that are accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. Radiological technologists perform diagnostic imaging examinations on patients using X-ray, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging technology. A technologist might perform all types of radiology tests, or specialize in one. The BLS groups all types of radiological technologists under one category.
Average Annual Salary
The average annual earnings for radiological technologists in the United States was $53,230 as of May 2008, according to the BLS. The median annual earnings of radiologic technologists were $52,210 in May 2008 and the middle half brought home between $42,710 and $63,010. The lowest-earning tenth made less than $35,100, and the highest-paid 10 percent earned salaries of $74,970 of higher.
Average Hourly Rate
Some full-time and many part-time radiological technologists get paid hourly. The average annual earnings of U.S. radiological technologists break down to $25.59 hourly. The median hourly wage is $25.10 and the middle 50 percent make between $20.54 and $30.29 each hour. The lowest tenth earn less than $16.87 and the best-compensated 10 percent make more than $36.04 per hour.
Work Experience
The salary of a radiological technologist tends to increase along with work experience, according to a March 2010 salary report by Payscale.com. The median wage range for radiological technologists with less than one year of work experience was $16.63 through $20.84. The range increases to $16.91 through $21.65 for radiological technologists who have been on the job between one and four years. Radiological technologists with between five and nine years work experience can expect to earn between $18.73 and $24.39 hourly, while those with between 10 and 19 years experience earn between $19.92 and $26.75 per hour. The median expected wage range for technologists with 20 or more years of experience is $20.83 through $28.42.
Industry
Another factor that can influence the earnings of radiologic technologists is industry. The BLS calculated the average salaries of radiologic technologists in the five U.S. industries that have the highest employment levels for the profession. With average annual salaries of $55,210, radiological technologists working in diagnostic laboratories earned the most. In a close second are those employed in the federal executive branch, who earn $53,650 per year on average. Those working in general medical and surgical hospitals earned $52,890 per annum, while technologists in outpatient care centers brought home $50,840 per year on average. On the low end of the earnings spectrum are radiological technologists who work in the offices of physicians. They make $48,530 per year on average.
Geographic Location
The earnings of radiological technologists can also vary significantly based on geographic location. In general, radiological technologists working in urban health care facilities earn higher incomes than their counterparts operating in rural areas. This can likely be attributed to the higher cost of living in metropolitan areas. Salaries also vary by state. With average annual salaries of $67,240 and $64,560, radiological technologists living in Massachusetts and Nevada are the highest earners. On the other end of the earnings spectrum are radiological technologists in Oklahoma and West Virginia. They earn $43,560 and $41,660 each year on average, respectively.
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